Vishnu Purana Quotes and Teachings

This is a collection of quotes and teachings from Vishnu Purana. Sources are the various translation of Vishnu Purana in English.

To that Brahman there are two states – one without murti and
other with murti; one indestructible and the other destructible: which (both)
are inherent in all things. The indestructible is the supreme Brahman: the
destructible is all this universe.

He (that Brahman) is of one essence, ever pure and free from
stain. That Brahman, in its totality has essentially the aspect of Prakrti both
Vyakta and Avyakta (manifested and unmanifested) and also the aspect of Purusha
and the aspect of time.

Time is without beginning and his end is not known: and from
him, the revolutions of creation, continuance, dissolution in the end
intermittently succeed.

There was neither day nor night, nor sky, nor earth, nor
darkness, nor light, nor any other thing save only one inapprehensible by
senses or by the intellect.

Anger takes away the great and immense asceticism and fame acquired with extreme toil by men.

It is better to suffer a small loss than acquiring wealth by hostility.

He who speaks wisely, moderately and compassionately proceeds to the regions which are perpetual sources of bliss.

He who is intelligent, bashful, forgiving, god-fearing and humble proceeds to the region which is obtainable only through hard spiritual practices.

The earth is upheld by the truthfulness of those who have controlled their passions, and who, always following pious observances, are not sullied by desire, covetousness and anger.

Those who do not know this entire world as consciousness in reality see it as material and drift in the ocean of delusion. (Vishnu Purana, 1.4.40)

A person who knows the creation and dissolution of the universe, the coming and going of beings, and their knowledge and ignorance is called Bhagavan. (Vishnu Purana 6.5.78)

Desire is never satiated by enjoyment as fire, fed with oil, becomes the more intense.

When man does not cherish any sinful feeling towards creatures and looks on all with an equal eye – he then finds everything full of pleasure and delight.

The earth is upheld by the truthfulness of those who have controlled their passions, and who, always following pious observances, are not sullied by desire, covetousness and anger.

Thus the one only God, Janardana, takes the designation of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, accordingly as he creates, preserves, or destroys. Vishnu as creator creates Himself; as preserver preserves Himself; as destroyer destroys Himself at the end of all beings. (Amsha 1, Chapter 2)

Birth is consequent upon the virtue and vice of pristine actions.

The more a man will create dear relations, the more deeply will be implanted the thorns of anxiety in his heart.

Birth, youth and decay are the properties of the body not of the soul.

In this ocean of the world infested with many miseries Vishnu is your only stay.

Same thing which at one time brings on anger will become reason for delight at another time.

Nothing in itself is either pleasurable or painful; pleasure, pain and the like merely denominate the various states of mind.

Same thing sometimes gives delight, sometimes pain, sometimes creates jealousy and sometimes anger. Therefore everything in this world is a source of misery.

True wisdom consists only in the knowledge of Brahman.

Vishnu is always pleased with that pure-minded man whose mind is not polluted with anger and other passions.

Wise words of Prahlada from Vishnu Purana

Every living being takes birth and suffers a lot while passing his life through childhood, youth and old age. The end result of life is nothing but death. It is one’s Karma that accompany him birth after birth. But in every birth, this soul mistakes hunger, thirst, cold or hot for the pleasures. More of the luxuries one collects, more the sorrow increases.

Attachment and passion are the greatest cause of sorrow.

Even after passing a life that is full of sorrow, one suffers the agony of death and rebirth again. This whole cycle continues again and again. Lord Vishnu is the ultimate refuge for the soul, which feels drowned in the ocean of sorrow.

The soul that stays within me is eternal. The soul has no distinct stages in life.

A wise person hence must ignore the different stages of his body’s stay on earth and make efforts for this benefit right in this childhood.

Quotes from Vishnu Purana on the Purity of River Ganga

The offenses of any man who bathes in Ganga River are immediately expiated and unprecedented virtue is engendered.

Its waters, offered by children to their ancestors in faith for three years, yield to the latter rarely attainable gratification.

People who offer sacrifice in Ganga to the Lord of Sacrifice, Purushottama, obtain whatever they desire, either here or in heaven.

Saints who are purified from all sins by bathing in its waters and whose minds are intent on Keshava, acquire thereby final liberation.

This sacred stream, heard of, desire, seen, touched, bathed in, or hymned, day by day, sanctifies all beings, and those who, even at a distance of a hundred leagues, exclaim ‘Ganga, Ganga’ atone for the sins committed during three previous lives.